Basement battle looms for Darmstadt and Hamburg

vor 2 Stunden

Summary

Darmstadt 15th on eight points, Hamburg bottom with just four.

The hosts have lost their last four Bundesliga outings.

Hamburg still without a win all season.

SV Darmstadt 98 and Hamburger SV will be desperate to get points on the board when they meet in a relegation six-pointer at the Jonathan-Heimes-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on Sunday (kick-off 15:30CET/14:30GMT).

Darmstadt made a bright start at FC Schalke 04 last time out, with Marcel Heller giving them a sixth-minute lead – but hopes of a first point away from home this season were dashed as the Royal Blues ran out 3-1 winners. Die Lilien have picked up all eight of their points this season at home, and will be looking to add to that tally against rock-bottom Hamburg, who are yet to win a game at all in 2016/17. After successive defeats to RB Leipzig, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Ingolstadt 04 and Schalke, Norbert Meier's men will be determined to stop the rot.

Hamburg coach Markus Gisdol endured another frustrating afternoon in last Saturday's Nordderby, as his side twice led through Michael Gregoritsch before settling for a draw against rivals SV Werder Bremen. The wait for a first win this season goes on, and while Die Rothosen are only four points from safety, they could at least move off the foot of the table with victory on Sunday. After encouraging performances against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Bremen, Hamburg now need to break their duck, and end a dismal winless run in the Bundesliga stretching back to the final day of last season.